M. Kelly Tillery was a 24-year-old recent Penn law graduate in September 1979 when he heard Mayor Frank Rizzo announce on the evening news that he would build a huge cylindrical platform atop Logan Square, for Pope John Paul II to say Mass.

For two years I taught social studies at an inner-city high school; for six years I ran a Catholic Worker shelter for homeless families. Then, almost 20 years ago, I became a full-time animal advocate, confident that such labor is integral to Catholicism.

Rev. Justin Hoye, St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Kansas City, North: Much like fire can be either devastating or enriching in its use, so too can shame. While shaming is often not the first tool we use in addressing a person's sin, it certainly can be employed as a means to invoke healthy change.

Former Roman Catholic Archbishop John Nienstedt said he remains "dumbfounded" by the allegations of personal misconduct that emerged last year during an internal church investigation of his behavior - a report that the archdiocese now is considering making public.

The push from bishops threatens to disrupt the historically reliable alliance of evangelical Christians and conservative Roman Catholic voters, putting pressure on Republicans who have leaned on their religious faith to guide them on social issues.

Our Lady of La Vang, currently meeting in St. Josephs Catholic Church in Raleigh, is relocating to a facility of their own. The community looks forward to creating a space that helps celebrate their culture. Binh Nguyen, pastoral council vice-chair for external affairs, provides the translation for Phat Quang Trinh in this video. Video by Tegan Johnston, tjohnston@newsobserver.com and Spencer Parts, sparts@newsobserver.com

Pope Francis has denounced what he calls the “great powers” of the world for failing to act when there was intelligence indicating Jews, Christians, homosexuals and others were being transported to death camps in Europe during World War II.

The Right Rev. Michael Curry, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, is outspoken on social issues and advocates for social justice and racial and gender equality. Now he has the chance to take his message to the broader church family. He is one of four nominees for the position of Presiding Bishop for the Episcopal Church in the United States. The governing body of the church will meet in Salt Lake City starting on Thursday and will vote to select a new Presiding Bishop on Saturday.

Between prayer and boisterous songs, speakers from Triangle churches and universities called on a crowd of more than 150 people at St. Paul AME Church in Raleigh to take solace in God and to rededicate themselves to rooting out racial injustice following the shooting in Charleston, SC.

Franklin Graham is calling on Christians to boycott gay-friendly corporations. And he says he's doing his part by moving all the bank accounts for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association out of Wells Fargo because of its ad featuring a lesbian couple.